Ok, this tangent is becoming a vortex. Can we please try to steer it back to Restaurants/bars - post Covid-19?

Thanks,

=R=
for LTH

It looks like Gibson’s will be doing things the right way.

I had my first meal at any restaurant (other than pickup and delivery) on Sunday at Michael's in Highland Park. We walked up and ordered outside, took a table and they brought the food to us. Pretty simple and it felt a little like a normal spring day in doing that. It's not what it used to be since they sold it around 7 years ago but it was fine on a nice day out riding our bicycles.

I am still unsure how and when I will be able to get back to a licensed venue in the metropolitan area.
Complicating this is three of my favorite beer bars have announced they will not reopen. They were on my regular bookmark page. {All venues serving beer have been shadowed there until such time as this pandemic is deemed ‘manageable.’}
I am doing this ‘Beer Hero’ scheme. So despite that liquor stores seemed to be targeted by miscreants, including the Foremost outlet closest to the abode here, where I bought a couple of beers three weeks ago (its variety, quality, and selection is lacking - and the manager may be a gyp), I have sufficient packaged beers to hang loose within the confines.
To be honest, I did not even know about the looting occurring as I had been obeying the prime directive - Stay home. {“Pudgy, it was all over TV.” ~ Do you think I am actually watching any TV these days? When the set is turned on, it is to play one of the Japanese Adult Videos DVDs brought back from there. The list of unviewed ones is in the hundreds, and some are four hours long.}
My on-line time (still limited to v.92 speed at the abode) is planning trips to small restaurants serving takeout, and determining whether I can ride transit there. I think the next places I want to hit are Mr. D.'s Shish-kabob and Marco's Beef and Pizza.

scottsol wrote:It looks like Gibson’s will be doing things the right way.

Our experience on 6/30 at the Oak Brook location was stellar.
Also, they didn't adhere to their stated "two hour limit" at all.
We enjoyed a leisurely three hour dinner.

pudgym29 wrote: I think the next places I want to hit are Mr. D.'s Shish-kabob and Marco's Beef and Pizza.

The first time I tried both Mr. D's and Marco's was back to back for a big lunch. And both were instant top 10 beef joints for me (great timing as The Original Mr. Beef in Homer Glen closed and another one or two has changed for the worse).

As outdoor dining in Chicago continues into its second weekend, the Lakeview East Chamber of Commerce is taking it a step further through Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s pilot program, with plans to be the first area in the city to shut down a main street for outdoor dining.

On Friday, from noon until 10 p.m., Broadway will be open only to pedestrians between Belmont Avenue and Diversey Parkway, and again from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

The event, dubbed Dine Out on Broadway, will repeat again next weekend.

https://www.chicagotribune.com/coronavi ... story.html

I wish them well with their street closure, but that plan and the 60 tables spread over two blocks lasted 1 day here in Plainfield.

The other businesses on the block complained that they needed the drive/walk through traffic an open street and parking brought.

Was good for the restaurants, but not the butcher, the coffee shop, ice cream place, etc.

So now the parking spaces and sidewalk in from of each restaurant can be converted to "patio" dining with proper distancing of course

Maybe the fact Broadway isn't doing it daily will help sustain the event through the next phase.

So my plan for Friday is, on the bus, to go to Mesa Urbana Dos - take out something from there, and then head for Burning Bush Brwy. and Dovetail Brwy. for the 'Beer Hero' scheme.

Willkat98 wrote:I wish them well with their street closure, but that plan and the 60 tables spread over two blocks lasted 1 day here in Plainfield.

Keep in mind, (I'm guessing) most people in Plainfield go to the businesses in their business district by car. Whereas most people going to businesses on Broadway in Lakeview are walking from home in the neighborhood, which is more densely populated than Plainfield. (Not criticizing either one, just drawing the obvious distinction that would make it work better in Lakeview than Plainfield.)

Dave148 wrote:

On Friday, from noon until 10 p.m., Broadway will be open only to pedestrians between Belmont Avenue and Diversey Parkway, and again from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

The event, dubbed Dine Out on Broadway, will repeat again next weekend.

So much for carry-out without added hassle from Tom Yum Cafe or Crisp this weekend. No problem, since it may be for the greater good. I hope it warms up though. Too chilly for pure alfresco for me right now based on the temperature in Evanston. Would need to be inside a place with the windows opened. East Lakeview isn't likely to catch higher temps with its proximity to the lake either.

NFriday wrote:I suspect when fast food chains such as McDonalds open up their restaurants, that they will not be allowed to operate the soft drink dispensers, which means that people will not be able to get refills on their soft drinks. Just like all drinking fountains in grocery stores are closed off.

Here in TN outside of Davidson County where we’ve been back to dining in for a while, from our direct experience they are open for customers to use them. The only difference we’ve noticed is that we are supplied with styrofoam cups instead of washable plastic ones. I can’t speak firsthand to what chain fast food places are doing because we don’t go there.

Chicago bars and breweries open on Wednesday

https://www.chicagotribune.com/coronavi ... story.html

Restaurant Workers In Danger: An Open Letter To Mayor Lightfoot and Governor Pritzker

https://medium.com/@donwoolf/restaurant ... 26eac68022

Indoor dining starts on the 26th = https://www.chicagotribune.com/coronavi ... story.html

Dave148 wrote:Indoor dining starts on the 26th = https://www.chicagotribune.com/coronavi ... story.html

Still a hard no from me.

I did something on Friday night that actually surprised myself . . . went out for dinner. Being higher risk, my wife and I grappled all week with whether or not do it. For the most part, we've avoided just about every risky situation over the past 3+ months. Neither of us have been inside a retail store since March 16. But after a lot of discussion, knowing that we'd not only be in good hands at our friends' restaurant but also sitting outside -- and having talked to another friend about his experience earlier in the week -- we decided to go to Prairie Grass Cafe for my wife's birthday dinner . . .


Converted Parking Lot "Dining Room"
An admittedly eerie and surreal scene and yet, without the obvious context, it was a perfectly lovely night. The PGC crew was taking every precaution imaginable. Bottled water at the tables, table settings and napkins wrapped in plastic, single-use disposable menus, all staff wearing masks, customers required to wear masks if they entered the restaurant, generous space between tables, etc. Please keep in mind that I have probably been to PGC over 600 times and the owners are friends. And still, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't feeling slightly uneasy during the experience. Happily, the friendly faces and the great food -- even with a pared down menu -- helped offset the unease.


Caesar Salad w/Avocado
My son's salad.


Crispy Brussels Sprouts
We shared these. I'm addicted to the basil remoulade in this dish.


Grilled Chicken Wings
Pretty unique and always delicious.


Seared Ahi Tuna Au Poivre Salad
We split this special, intended as a main course, as an appetizer. Really nice.


Penne Pasta
My son's order. One of his comfort food faves.


Crispy Half Boneless Chicken
As crispy as advertised and juicy throughout. And you know I love my broccoli!


Grilled Ora King Salmon
Luscious, luscious, unctuous fish.


Chocolate Pudding
Perfectly balanced between sweet and bitter.


Mom's Strawberry Rhubarb Pie a la Mode
In the world of pie, it really doesn't get any better than this.

I never imagined that I'd be bringing love and trust into a discussion at LTH. But honestly, they were a huge part of our deciding to take this step. Without them, I don't think we could have had this experience. We've been friends with the PGC team for so long, that when they pledged that they'd take great care of us, we believed them. Before the meal, I thought that maybe, once we got this one under our belts, we'd be ready to move on to other restaurants. But based on how I'm feeling now, that wasn't the case. For us, this felt safe in a way that I doubt dining at other establishments would right now. I'm not saying that's rational. I'm sure there are plenty of places that are set up well and doing things right. And I believe that eventually, I'll get to them. But for now, baby steps . . . and back to cooking tomorrow.

=R=